Ask The President

 I have posted a question on the White House You Tube Channel, asking the President to use
an Executive Order to create a Cold War Service Medal. If you follow the message below click on the White House You Tube channel link, on the right side type Cold War in the search box when the question comes up please click on like to vote in favor of the Medal.



What would you ask President Obama?
Tomorrow, President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address at 9:00 p.m. ET. During that speech, he’ll lay out his vision for an America where hard work and responsibility are rewarded, where everyone does their fair share, and where everyone is held accountable for what they do.
There is a range of ways to get involved with this year’s State of the Union address.
Immediately following the President’s speech on Tuesday, be sure to stay tuned to WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU for a live panel featuring senior White House advisors answering your questions about the speech. Then, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, a group of policy experts and advisors to the President will sit down for Office Hours on Twitter -- discussing the issues that matter to you and your community.
Finally, on Monday, January 30, President Obama will join the conversation in a special Google+ Hangout, a live multi-person video chat, from the White House.
Participating in the Hangout is easy -- just visit the White House YouTube channel to submit your questions and vote for your favorites between now and January 28. A few participants will be chosen to join the President in the Google+ Hangout to ask their questions of the President live!
Check out WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU to learn more about watching the enhanced State of the Union online and all the ways you can ask questions this week:

WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU
Here’s the full lineup -- all times are ET.

Tuesday

• 9:00 p.m.: Watch the enhanced version of the speech that features graphics, data and stats that highlight the issues the President is discussing on WhiteHouse.gov/SOTU. Use the Twitter hashtag #SOTU to discuss the speech live.
• 10:00 p.m.: Immediately following the speech, pose your questions to a live panel at the White House. Senior advisors will answer your questions about the President’s address submitted via Twitter (use #WHChat and #SOTU), Facebook, Google+, and an in-person audience of Tweetup participants.

Wednesday Office Hours Schedule

• All Day: Josh Earnest, Principal Deputy Press Secretary, answers your questions on Twitter (@jearnest44)
• 1:00 p.m.: Office Hours with Mark Zuckerman, Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council
• 3:00 p.m.: Office Hours with Dan Pfeiffer (@pfeiffer44), White House Communications Director

Thursday Office Hours Schedule

• 10:00 a.m. Veterans: Matt Flavin, White House Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy
• 11:00 a.m. LGBT: Miriam Vogel, White House Senior Policy Advisor and Gautam Raghavan, White House Associate Director for Public Engagement
• 12:00 p.m. Women: Racquel Russell, Special Assistant to the President for Mobility and Opportunity and Avra Siegel, White House Deputy Executive Director for the Council on Women and Girls
• 1:00 p.m. Seniors: Jeanne Lambrew, Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy and Nick Papas, Assistant Press Secretary
• 2:00 p.m. Latinos: Felicia Escobar, White House Senior Policy Advisor, Julie Rodriguez, White House Associate Director of Public Engagement and Luis Miranda, White House Director of Hispanic Media
• 4:00 p.m. Small Business Owners: Christine Koronides, Senior Advisor for Economic Policy, National Economic Council
• 5:00 p.m. African Americans: Danielle Gray, Deputy Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
• 6:00 p.m. Asian American Pacific Islanders: Chris Lu, Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary
• TBD Youth: Administration official to be announced

Friday Office Hours Schedule

• 11:00 a.m. Foreign Policy: Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting
• 12:00 p.m. Education: Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy
• 1:00 p.m. Health: Jeanne Lambrew, Deputy Assistant to the President for Health Policy and Nick Papas, Assistant Press Secretary
• 2:00 p.m. Energy: Heather Zichal, Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change and Dan Utech, Deputy Director for Energy Policy
• 3:00 p.m. Consumer Protections: Brian Deese, Deputy Director National Economic Council
• 4:00 pm The Economy: Jason Furman, Principal Deputy Director National Economic Council
• 5:00 p.m. Job Opportunities: Portia Wu, Senior Policy Advisor for Mobility and Opportunity Policy
• 6:00 p.m. Urban Issues: Racquel Russell, Special Assistant to the President for Mobility and Opportunity

Monday January 30

• President Obama participates in a Google+ Hangout from the White House

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

U.S. Embassy in Syria to close

It appears that the U.S. Embassy in Damascus  will close and all American personnel will
be evacuated by the end of this month.

According to senior Obama administration officials, this is to safeguard American lives due to
the problems and the decline of security issues.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has so far not been willing to increase protection to the Embassy,
and unless he does provide additional security the Embassy will be closed.

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

New York State increases tax exemption for Cold War Veterans

The New York Sate Legislature has taken a brave step forward for Cold War Veterans.

The legislature recently increased the amount of tax exemptions being given to Cold War Veterans. The increase was from $12,000 to $54,000. For those with service connected disabilities the increase is from $54,000 to $180,000.

This exemption is for those who served during the Cold War, from Sept. 2, 1945 to Dec. 26, 1991. Other tax exemptions for those who served during wartime periods are already in place.

It is now up to each local tax board and city council to approve the increase. It is hoped that even with
municipalities facing financial problems that each and everyone will approve the new exemption amounts as quickly as possibly.

It is just a small way to thank, honor and remember those who served. Cold War Veterans are a
very large voting block, and will remember who stood up to assist us for a long time. For those
who might be against these increases, veterans have a long memory, elections are not that far away.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"


---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

AMVETS seeking Cold War Veterans

Amvets is seeking Cold War Veterans to join. They are actively asking for us, at least in Virginia
they are making a push for our support; wanting us to become part of their organization.

American Veterans (AMVETS) is asking Cold War veterans to step out of the shadows and make their voices heard through the establishment of an AMVETS Posts in Chatham.


There are nearly six million ‘peacetime' veterans, those who served during the Cold War but not during ‘hot wars' and about 200,000 of those live in Virginia. Most are unaffiliated with any veteran organization. AMVETS does not discriminate based on place or period of performance.

"Honorable service equals eligibility" says Virginia AMVETS Public Relations Officer Greg Eanes. "It's time for our Cold War veterans to affiliate as veterans. They served and their service is worthy of recognition. We won the Cold War - the Iron Curtain fell twenty years ago and now an entire generation in Eastern Europe has grown up experiencing economic, political and social freedoms that weren't available to their parents. Our American Cold War veterans can take great pride knowing their services between 1945 and 1991 helped make it happen."

Eanes said, "Affiliation with AMVETS provides a venue for supporting veterans, widows, orphans and active military, providing community services and the camaraderie of fellow vets." Only ten members are needed to start an AMVETS Post and they can meet anywhere; private homes, churches or be hosted by other veterans organizations. Pittsylvania has over 5,000 veterans according to Veterans Administration statistics.

AMVETS was founded by World War II veterans who wanted their own organization. Eligibility was amended to include all veterans who served honorably. Eanes said, "Some of us got called to serve during wartime, others got called go overseas, others served during periods of relative peace making them ineligible for other veteran groups. From an AMVETS perspective, all that matters is that we signed the same contract and served honorably. All are veterans."

Individuals wishing to learn more about AMVETS can visit the national website at www.amvets.org. Individuals wishing to start an AMVETS Post can contact Virginia AMVETS First vice Commander Bruce Brown (blbrown555@wildblue.net) or 804-334-4352.

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Doomsday Clock Moved to 5 Minutes to Midnight

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) announced today that the hands of the Doomsday Clock were moved forward one minute to now read at 5 minutes to Midnight.

In a formal announcement Tuesday noted "It is five minutes to midnight. Two years ago it appeared that world leaders might address the truly global threats that we face. In many cases that trend has not continued or been reversed. For that reason the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists is moving the clock hand one closer to midnight back to its time in 2007."

The change was made due to the clear and present danger of nuclear proliferation and climate changes.

 With Iran coming closer to producing nuclear weapons, North Korea becoming even more of an unknown, China building its military stronger, and Russia beginning to flex their muscle again; one
has to wonder when, not if, it will happen.

The United States and Russia did sign an agreement to reduce the stockpiles of nuclear weapons,
but there are rumblings that Russia might back out of the deal. With the distinct and inevitable possibility of the return of Putin as president of Russia, it seems quite likely that there will be a "reset" to the "reset", and not for the better.

Plus there are still many who say that climate change is not a cause for concern and that the world is merely progressing through natural cyclic changes. Of course anyone with even a small understanding of the true and relentless and ever spreading changes around us daily must know the truth. Something has to be done to reverse the warming on the planet.

The ticking of the clock becomes louder and all of the world leaders should take notice.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Unemployment Continues to Rise For Young Veterans

A new report from the Bureau of Labor shows that the unemployment rate for young veterans
aged 18-24 is now at 13.1 percent.

That means that one out of three veterans in that age group were without a job in the last quarter of 2011, that is up from one out of five in the final quarter of 2010.

Paul T. Conway, president of Generation Opportunity said "Those who made the decision to serve
our nation and to defend the freedom of all Americans are selfless individuals who, along with their
families, have made sacrifices for a cause greater than themselves. The fact that unemployment is
disproportionately high for young veterans should be a concern for every American."

Conway went on to say, "When young veterans-highly trained and tested professionals with a proven
ability to learn quickly, operate on a team, and produce results-are unable to find real opportunities
in the job market, it speaks to the poor state of our economy. The root of the problem does not
rest with the American veteran-the issue is the faltering economy and leadership in Washington
that is committed to higher regulations and job killing taxes that inhibit ingenuity and business
expansion, limiting opportunities for all Americans."

Facts like this make on wonder, is the economy getting any better? Is there any chance for change in the
near future?

No mention in this report of the effects on older veterans, many of whom have been out of work
for long periods of time. Many of these veterans have given up hope, and many of them have
become homeless, which is a completely different story.

Nor does it reflect on the enormous effect that will be felt by the thousand
of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who are coming home to find that their jobs
are no longer available.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996